Taking on a Disciple

The youth quietly drew in a breath.

Then he began to speak.

"Master Lu, my name is Lin Yan. I'm fourteen years old this year, and I'm a local of Jiangzhou."

The youth slowly explained.

Lin Yan was a local of Jiangzhou.

He was the descendant of a fallen martial lineage.

His mother had died young, and his father had passed away soon after. Lin Yan had been raised by relatives.

His father was said to have been a fairly skilled swordsman, so Lin Yan's dream since childhood had been to become a swordsman.

He had started saving money at a very young age.

However, martial arts schools that taught swordsmanship generally charged no small fee.

Not long after, Lin Yan heard about Changle Martial Arts School and Lu Changfeng.

He had overheard others talking on the road and learned that the master of this new martial arts school excelled at swordsmanship. The previous night, he had defeated his opponent and become the fifth Blood Tempering Realm swordsman among the martial arts schools on Five Horse Street.

Only then had Lin Yan come to ask about the school's fees, hoping to give it a try.

"Master Lu, I've only managed to save twelve taels of silver so far. I'd like to join the martial arts school first and slowly make up the rest of the fee later. Would that be all right?"

Lin Yan looked at Lu Changfeng with anticipation.

Lu Changfeng naturally wasn't someone who truly cared about a few taels of silver.

He took the twelve taels Lin Yan offered, placed them in his hand, and weighed them.

"How about this? I have a proposal. It can let you become a disciple of the martial arts school for free. Listen to it first, and decide afterward whether you're willing."

Lu Changfeng explained his idea.

The first level of Storm Body Tempering Sword Technique had already begun to take shape.

However, he still needed someone to cultivate it from the very beginning and provide him with a record of the process so he could improve it. Only then could he perfectly create this Body Tempering technique.

Lu Changfeng was extremely invested in creating Storm Body Tempering Sword Technique.

If he successfully created a Body Tempering sword technique, then even if he suddenly died one day, he would at least have left a trace of himself in this world.

Lu Changfeng's proposal was for Lin Yan to become the test subject for his technique.

As for Lin Yan, he agreed with a nod without giving it a second thought. "I'm willing, Master Lu!"

Lin Yan had been born into hardship and had endured the cold looks and mockery of his relatives.

Being given a place where he could live with relative independence was already enough to make him deeply grateful, let alone being taught a Body Tempering sword technique.

"Good. In that case, you're the first disciple I've taken since opening this school on Five Horse Street."

"At Changle Martial Arts School, there are Registered Disciples, Ordinary Disciples, and True Disciples. As of today, you're an Ordinary Disciple of the school."

"At the school, I'll personally teach you Body Tempering Sword Technique. If you want to learn lightness skills, you can ask your Master's Wife, Chun Zhu. If you want to learn boxing techniques, you can ask your Senior Disciple Brother, Black Ox."

"If you have nowhere to live, you can choose a side room in the area belonging to the martial arts school. You can also eat all three meals here. These are the benefits of cooperating with my experiment."

Lin Yan gratefully knelt down and kowtowed three times to Lu Changfeng. "Disciple Lin Yan pays respects to Master!"

Lu Changfeng did not stop him and calmly accepted the three kowtows.

He then went to the practice grounds, took out a weighted longsword, and handed it to Lin Yan.

"Do you have any foundation in martial arts?"

Lin Yan struggled to swing the longsword a few times. "I secretly practiced swordsmanship on my own, but I don't know much."

Lu Changfeng could see that Lin Yan's method of exerting force when he struck with the sword followed a certain pattern. This ten-pound sword was used for the first level of Body Tempering Sword Technique.

It was three times heavier than an ordinary sword. An ordinary person's arms would ache after only a few swings.

Yet Lin Yan was only fourteen and could already wield it decently.

As expected of someone with a talent for swordsmanship. Even practicing in secret, he's managed to develop a semblance of skill.

"Mm, not bad. Then I'll directly teach you the first level of Storm Body Tempering Sword Technique."

"This Body Tempering sword technique is one I created myself. Its cultivation difficulty is quite high, so it isn't suitable for ordinary people. Only those with a certain talent for swordsmanship can successfully cultivate it."

When Lin Yan heard that the Body Tempering technique had been created by Lu Changfeng himself, admiration appeared on his face.

After hearing the next sentence, he looked somewhat ashamed. "Master, what if I can't master it—"

"Don't worry. My judgment of people is still accurate. As long as you're willing to work hard, mastering it will only be a matter of time."

Under Lu Changfeng's reassurance, Lin Yan gradually suppressed the panic in his heart.

Lu Changfeng began teaching Lin Yan the first level of Storm Body Tempering Sword Technique.

Lin Yan studied earnestly. While teaching him, Lu Changfeng adjusted some of the technique's variations and breathing formula based on Lin Yan's physical reactions.

After an hour, under Lu Changfeng's personal instruction, Lin Yan had completely practiced the first level of Body Tempering Sword Technique once.

He was already drenched in sweat, collapsed on the ground, and gasped heavily.

Lu Changfeng had gained quite a lot. After modifying the first level once more, he figured that if he had Lin Yan practice it a few more times, he should be able to finalize the completed version.

"Good. Rest for a while. We'll continue practicing later."

Lu Changfeng stopped for the time being.

Chun Zhu entered the martial arts school with several older men and women.

Now that the martial arts school had officially opened, it naturally needed some servants.

These older men and women were all locals of Jiangzhou. They handled cooking, sweeping, washing clothes, and other chores. They were diligent, and their wages were not high.

Chun Zhu had arranged all these matters properly, leaving Lu Changfeng with nothing to worry about.

In the afternoon, several more youths came to register at the martial arts school, led by their parents.

These youths all appeared to come from wealthy families. Although their talent and natural aptitude were lacking, their parents paid the fees generously. Besides, the youths were only practicing outside of school and would come over for at most an hour each day.

Thus, Lu Changfeng accepted all three youths as Registered Disciples and had Black Ox teach them Body Tempering techniques.

Black Ox's cultivation had already reached the Blood Tempering Third Level. Combined with his mid-grade talent in boxing techniques, teaching these disciples Body Tempering techniques was well within his capabilities.

On the second day, the martial arts school gained five more Registered Disciples.

On the third day, the martial arts school gained three more Registered Disciples, bringing the number of disciples past ten.

On the fourth day, the martial arts school gained an Ordinary Disciple.

This Ordinary Disciple was named Cui Tianyu. He came from a wealthy family, was fifteen years old, and had reached the Blood Tempering Second Level. He possessed Grade A Lower natural aptitude and was extremely fond of swordsmanship, but unfortunately had zero talent.

He had gone to many martial arts schools to practice swordsmanship but had never succeeded. This time, he had joined Changle Martial Arts School with the intention of giving it a try.

Lu Changfeng was precisely short of specimens for Storm Body Tempering Sword Technique, so he had Cui Tianyu join the martial arts school and cultivate alongside Lin Yan under his guidance.

Body Tempering Sword Technique was extremely rare even in Jiangnan Prefecture. Most Body Tempering techniques were still based on boxing, palm techniques, and External Skills.

After hearing that this Body Tempering sword technique had been created by Lu Changfeng himself, Cui Tianyu immediately decided to follow Lu Changfeng and practice diligently.

If even Lu Changfeng, the creator of Body Tempering Sword Technique, could not help him succeed in cultivating swordsmanship, then Cui Tianyu felt that he might as well give up his dream of becoming a swordsman.

The fifth day.

Early in the morning, after Lu Changfeng practiced the second level of Heavenly Body Tempering Blade Technique once,

Black Ox came to the rear courtyard and said that someone had arrived from the martial arts school's arena venue. They had come to inform Lu Changfeng that an opponent was available to fight that evening.

Lu Changfeng put on his outer robe and went to the martial arts school's guest pavilion to meet the visitor.